Extension-ladder.



No. 650,604. Patented May 29,1900.

H. E. HOWARD. EXTENSION LADDER;

' Q (Application fllegi Aug 15, 1898. Renewed Nov. 14, 1899.) (NoModel.)

UM PMGWM 7 fig [A N s PETERS co, PHOTO-LITHO. WASNINGYON u c U IT 21mPATENT ()FFICE;

HARRY E.'HOWARD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

EXTENSION-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 650,604, dated May 29,1900. Application filed August 15,1898. Renewed November 14, 1899.Serial No. 736,999- (No model) To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY E. HOWARD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in EXtension-Ladders,ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in extension-ladders; and theobject of my improvements is to provide a portable ladder of thischaracter in which the coupling of the sections may be obtained with themaximum degree of strength, in which antifrictional means are employed,whereby the sliding of one section over the other is quickly and easilyaccomplished, and in which the coupling and antifrictional device willnot interfere with the ordinary use of the ladder with safety to theuser. i

I am aware that sectional ladders have been provided with appliances forreducing the friction resulting in sliding one section over the otherand that various forms of couplings have been employed to secure thesections together. One appliance consists of a bracket or yoke extendingoutwardly from the ladder and in which is mounted a roller which extendstransversely across the ladder, the sliding section bearing against theroller. The objection to this device is that the bracket projects somuch from the outer face or plane of the ladder that it compels the userto swing his body and limbs so far out as to endanger his hold, or it islikely to cause him to catch his foot'in the bracket, and thus produce afall. Another deviceconsists of two brackets secured to the side railsof one section of the ladder, in each of which is mounted a frictionalroller. The defects in this appliance are that the brackets twist oryield laterally, thus causing the rollers to run unevenly and eventuallypermitting displacement of the upper section. This construction embodiesno bracing features, there being no connection between the individualbrackets.

Having become cognizant of the defects above set forth from myexperience as a man ufacturer of extension-ladders, it has been the aimof my invention to overcome them in a simple and economical manner,which will be set forth in detail and which is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, which form a part of my application for patent,and in which- Figure 1 shows in perspective view the application of myinvention to two sections of an extensible ladder. Fig. 2 is a detailperspective view of my invention, and Fig. 3 is a transverse section online :20 w of Fig. 1.

'My invention consists of a combined bracket and yoke A, which is formedfrom a single piece of flat or strap metal. site ends are bent up toform flanges a, which are perforated for the reception of bolts, bymeans of which the bracket is bolted to the rear or under side of theside rails b of the first or ground section ofthe ladder. The yoke-strapis again bent at the points 0 c, whereupon it takes a U -shaped form,the sides of which areindioated by the letters at 01. These sides areperforated near the flanges a for the reception of bolts, which arecaused to pass through the side rails b of the groundsection of theladder at right angles to the flange-bolts above mentioned. Theyokestrap is then bent inwardly at e e, forming Its oppo-,

short arms f, which are parallel with the sides d.

Mounted in suitable openings in the parts (1 and f are the spindles, onwhich are fixed the rollers g g, the'latter being slightly longer thanthe cross-diameter of the side rails h of the upper or extensiblesection of the ladder, against which they bear when the various partsare in operative positions, as shown in Fig. 1.

It will be noted that the central portion 11 of the yoke lies within theouter face or plane of the side rails h and, in fact, is almost to therungs of said upper section, thus being entirely out of the way of thefeet of the user, at the same time forming a connecting and bracing handbetween the roller-bearing portions on either side of the yoke, whichimparts strength and rigidity to the device, while it also serveseffectually to prevent displacement of the upper section of the ladder.Additional strength and rigidity are obtained by the double bends c ande, as will be readily apparent. It will also be apparent that thecentral part i may be divided vertically said U-shaped portion,said barlying within the plane of the extensible section, and rollers mounted insaid U-shaped portions, substantially as set forth.

2. A bracket or yoke composed of a single piece of metal-outwardly bentin U shape near each end to form bearings for rollers, and having itscentral portion connecting said U -shaped portions lying within theplane of the latter, and rollers mounted in said U- shaped portions,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

HARRY E. HOWARD. lVitnesses:

B. SINGER, J. BUEHLER.

